A younger version of Lil Nas X shares the frame with the artist he became in the film accompanying his new single, “World’s Greatest!”
For Lil Nas X, the return to new music begins with a look backward. “World’s Greatest!”, released October 1 through Columbia Records, comes with an Atlanta-shot video that brings childhood memories into the same story as his present-day self.
Phillip Youmans directed and edited the film, which moves between the adult Montero and a younger incarnation played by Aaron Kingsley Adetola. A dance-studio setting becomes the point where those two versions of his life meet, giving the release a narrative that stretches beyond the song’s title.
The team behind that physical storytelling includes choreographer Jakevis Thomason and cinematographer Gus Bendellini. Their contributions sit alongside a cast portraying members of Montero’s family, making the visual’s connection to his upbringing a central part of the production.
That family thread also shaped the announcement. Lil Nas X introduced the song with a voicemail from his late mother, Tamikia Hill, whose encouragement supplies the personal context for a release dedicated to her; the tribute encompasses both the recording and the film.
The single itself was written entirely by Lil Nas X, with production from C.WRAY and Steve Rusch. It ends a release gap stretching back to March 2025, when the eight-song Days Before Dreamboy gathered material including “HOTBOX,” “LIGHT AGAIN!” and “DREAMBOY.”
Listeners can hear “World’s Greatest!” on Spotify or Apple Music, and watch the complete film on Lil Nas X’s official YouTube release. Together, the recording and its longer visual tell a story about the people and memories that remain part of him as his career continues.
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